Henna
Gaijin

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of this site is to build a community to deepen and enrich understanding
between Japan and the United States and between Japanese and Western
people.

Henna
Gaijin is Japanese for "strange foreigner". The
paradoxical part is that the meaning is the exact opposite of
what you'd think! The Japanese expect foreigners to be weird,
so going around speaking English, shaking hands, not knowing how
to use chopsticks and so on is not considered strange: quite the
contrary, it's only to be expected, and the Japanese are usually
extremely accommodating and more than glad to offer a friendly
lecture on how we Japanese do things.

But the
henna gaijin do not fit the mold -- they creep out the Japanese
by acting too Japanese, even though they blatantly look like foreigners.
Henna gaijin can speak Japanese, use chopsticks, eat natto with
relish, know more about Buddhism and garden landscaping than most
Japanese people, and even use the elevators correctly. They blur
the distinction between gaijin and nihonjin, raising all sorts
of the disquieting questions about what it really means to be
Japanese. Surely it cannot be merely a question of physical appearance,
now can it?

And the sad part is
that someone who looks like a foreigner can never, ever become
more than a henna gaijin...

This definition
is from www.everything2.com
Please type henna gaijin in the search box at the top of the page,
and take off from there.

Send us
your definition of
and we will post it here.

Wild and Crazy
foreigner!
Jo M. Seattle, WA

Its a weird
white person who wants to learn about swords and stuff.
Mark B. St. Louis, Mo

...any foreigner
who stays in Japan longer than 3 weeks and doesn't have a job
teaching English
CeceF. Kobe, Japan

******************

YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
IN JAPAN A LONG TIME WHEN..... you PUT YOUR SLIPPERS ON TO GO
THREE STEPS to the tatami room on the other side of the hallway.

I took my product
group in the U.S. to Japan that summer, for both business and
fun. My boss was a funny guy and he wanted to make T-shirt that
said "Crazy Foreigners" in Japanese and wear it there.
We told him "Crazy Foreigners" would be a little too
harsh and I recommended "Henna Gaijin".

We made about 20
T-shirts that had "Henna Gaijin" (in Japanese) in
very big letters in the front. Some people chickened out but
my boss bravely wore it when we went to Akihabara in Tokyo.
I had great time watching people walk by, looking at my boss's
T-shirt and giggling. He had a great time having people's attention.

I arrived in Japan,
without a clue, I could never figure out just what to do
The culture was strange to my innocent eyes, around every corner
was some awkward surprise
I was telling myself everyday that Id try, to be very,
very careful and somehow Id get by
But no matter my efforts, somehow in the end, Id cause
all the locals to start shaking their heads

Saying henna
gaijin he doesnt know the rules here
Henna gaijin well have to give him a break
Cause hes a henna gaijin doesnt quite fit in
here
Just a henna gaijin hes bound to make some mistakes

Well, I did my best
to try to fit in but somehow my blunders always happened again
So I asked a friend to teach me Japanese views, he said he would
coach me, tell me what I should do

I followed his words
and tried out all his advice, he showed my just how to bow and
to appreciate rice
He taught me how to use chopsticks and polite Japanese
I studied intensely cause I didnt want to be another

Henna Gaijin who
doesnt know the rules here
A henna gaijin no I didnt want to be just another
Henna gaijin who doesnt quite fit in here I
wont be a
Henna gaijin just you wait and see

Well, in a few years,
I could fold paper cranes, I was an expert at chopsticks and
I slept on the trains
I could pass for a native when I talked on the phone
I took a bath every night and made my office my home
I was excited to show that Id adapted so well
That I was not from their country, surely noone would tell
People marvelled at me, at all my Japanese ways
They were so much impressed that they offered this praise

They called me henna
gaijin he knows all the rules here
Yes, hes a henna gaijin Isnt it strange? He
knows what to do!
Quite a henna gaijin why is he pretending hes Japanese?
Hes a henna gaijin just what is he trying to prove?

So now Ive lived
here for quite a long time, Ive come full circle in these
habits of mine

I pour the sauce on
my rice and wear sweats to the store
I never bother sending New Years cards, and Ill tell you
whats more
When I think of all the things I tried to do to fit in, Im
not sure if Id ever want to try them again
Yeah, you can suffer through natto till youre blue in
the face
But when its all said and done, and even if you like the
taste

Youre still
a henna gaijin I know all the rules here
But Im still a henna gaijin Im gonna break
them anyway
Yeah, Im a henna gaijin so just what do you plan
to do about it?
Just call me henna gaijin go ahead and make my day

TERIYAKI TAKE-OUT
by Mickey Molnaire

(C) Mickey Molnaire,
1997, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA; (206) 842-4916

(Sung to the tune
of CHATANOOGA CHOO-CHOO)

Pardon me, sir, is
this the teriyaki take-out?
Please, step in line. We'd like to save you some time.

Well, it's not gonna
be just another fast-food flake-out--
Some sushi with rice. It oughta taste pretty nice.

They bring dashi-no-moto
and udon to a boil,
Put in some tamari and some sesame oil.
Well, it's really sure a
Super lunch if you're a
Fan of vegetables, they've gotta great tempura!

Bring a tomodachi
'cause it's not very far.
Stand up at the counter, eating eight to the bar.
If you're in a hurry,
You don't have to worry,
Have some shabu-shabu -- or a chicken curry!

There's gonna be
A certain something waiting for me.
Lift up the lid.
There's octopus and fried squid.

Maybe for me
Onigiri with toasted nori.
Grab your hashi or fork
Have some donburi with pork.

Sashimi made of salmon
and a gyoza or three,
Add a bowl of miso for my baby and me.
Say "gochiso sama."
Eat your bowl of Ramen.
It will make you feel like you're a Yokohaman!

Gobble up your bento
luncheon,
but in your haste,
Don't forget the ginger
and thewasabi paste.
Sit on the tatami
With your dad and mommy.
Take it home and eat it in your own pajamies.

I'd like to try a
teriyaki takeout for my own!
Oh, teriyaki take-out,
I want to carry you home!
Teriyaki. Teriyaki.
And some rice...
Teriyaki. Terayaki.
Would be nice.
Teriyaki. Terayaki.
Oh, teriyaki take-out,
I want to carry you hoooooome!